Supreme Court Upholds Vela Death Sentence

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Updated: 11:49 AM Jan 8, 2010 Supreme Court Upholds Vela Death Sentence Omaha, Neb. The Nebraska Supreme Court has upheld the death sentence for one of the men convicted in the 2002 killings of five people at a Norfolk bank Posted: 11:49 AM Jan 8, 2010 Reporter: Associated Press Attorney General Comments on Vela Case

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The Nebraska Supreme Court has upheld the death sentence for one of the men convicted in the 2002 killings of five people at a Norfolk bank.

In a ruling issued Friday, the high court rejected arguments that Erick Vela shouldn't be put to death because Nebraska didn't have a valid death penalty at the time of the crime.

The court also rejected arguments that Vela is ineligible for capital punishment because he's mentally retarded.

In a dissent, Judge William Connolly says the majority opinion imposed a higher burden of proving mental retardation than state law requires.

Latest Comments

Posted by: Anonymous on Jan 8, 2010 at 04:16 PM

He'll die of ripe old age before he'll ever be executed in this state. The death penalty is 100% symbolic in Nebraska; we never actually carry out the sentences anymore, not since 1997, or over 22 years. Down in Texas, they pull the chain on this scum on a regular basis.

Posted by: Somedude 2 Location: Nebraska on Jan 8, 2010 at 03:08 PM

I know several who work at the local power plant. I'll have them increase the output.

Posted by: Somedude Location: Nebraska on Jan 8, 2010 at 12:55 PM

warm up the hot seat.

Click here to post or read all 3 comments.

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